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Repair guides for the Kenmore 80 Series of washing machines, manufactured by Kenmore.

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Washer won't power up or fill or do anything at all

Screwy one here - I’ve got a kenmore series 80 washer that won’t power up at all, just wouldn’t turn on one day after a normal cycle. It won’t fill, won’t spin, won’t make noise of any kind. It’s getting power, my power dectector lights on the main harness, and when it’s turned on the other harnesses light up the detector as well. When it is set to fill the fill valve power lines light up, but don’t open. I’ve replaced the timer (no effect), bypassed the both the fill sensor and lid switch, no effect. Next I’m replacing the fill valves - but even if that was the problem, it should still spin and drain when the dial is set to do that, right? It won’t do ANYTHING.

I still need to check the voltage going into the lines with an actual voltage detector to rule out a failing power cord I suppose, but other than that I have no idea what this could be. I’ve done many successful repairs on machines more complex than this, yet this one has me stumped. Is there something on there that overrides EVERY function if it fails?

Update (12/04/2019)

It was the power cord, one of the wires was chewed through. I should have checked that first thing.

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Hi,

What is the model number of the washer?

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Unsure - all I know at present is that it is about 20 years old.

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Hi,

You may have to check that the power cord to the washing machine is OK assuming that the wall outlet that the cord is plugged into is OK.

There is an Active, a Neutral and an Earth coming from the wall outlet. (if you have a 3 pin power connection that is If it is only a 2 pin plug then it is Active and Neutral or L1 and L2)

If you have an Ohmmeter, unplug the power cord from the outlet and then test each wire in the power cord for continuity between the plug and where the wire terminates on the washing machine.

A single probe detector will detect the presence of Voltage but not an Earth or Neutral.

Having voltage at the washer is OK but nothing will work if there is no return path for the current, either via the Neutral wire or an earth if they are one in the same.

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Thanks, that makes sense. I was thrown off by the detector sensing power, not realizing it wasn't actually detecting a complete circuit. I'll bring my actual meter along next time and start checking continuity and actual current. Thanks again!

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Bad power cord was indeed the problem.

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jason.moon will be eternally grateful.
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